“Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has he been like this?’
‘From childhood,’ he answered. ‘It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’
‘”If you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” Mark 9:21-24 NIV
As Moses descends the burning-bush presence of holiness, I am reminded of a time when Jesus came down from another holy mountain where God’s presence was dramatically revealed, a momentous occasion that also included Peter, prior to his crisis of faith-by-association. After being transfigured in His full, heavenly glory, along with Moses and the fiery prophet Elijah, Jesus encounters a man whose son is being attacked and overwhelmed my demonic spirits.
The disciples who had not climbed the mountain with Jesus had tried unsuccessfully to cast the demon out of the boy. The helpless father was beside himself with grief, crying for his son’s deliverance, but unsure of this thing known as salvation. As so many other parents before and after him, all he saw was the problem, for he was unable to see the solution. Whatever state of mind he was in when he first came to Jesus’ camp, he was now in a state of unbelief, nearing total despair. He had become a victim of circumstances rather than a victorious overcomer-by-faith.
Once the man was able to acknowledge his spiritual shortcomings, the Holy Sprit allowed him to see beyond his despair into a realm of praise and peace. Thus, Jesus immediately cast the demon out of the boy, and the true rejoicing began. Except for the disciples. Wandering aloud why they were unable to rid the youngster of his torturous foe, they asked Jesus why. Jesus answered them in a way that He may often answer you and me, if we are paying attention:
“He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’”
Mark 9:29 NKJV
When you are struggling with unbelief, or when you look into the fire and see nothing but agonizing pain, agony and terrible destruction, instead of the power of the Holy Spirit, you just might need to pray and fast until you finally experience the release of belief. This adage did not apply only to the father in this case, but also to the disciples who basically were trying to cast out a demon in their own knowledge and power, rather than submitting to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. If followers of Jesus do not bow to the Spirit of God, how will they convince servants of the evil one to do so?
We face many struggles for which we need that supernatural influx of power to cast aside all encumbrances, to cast away all heartaches, to cast off all burdens. If you are facing a monumental financial burden, a family crisis, an unsteady, personally difficult, or perhaps even an unhealthy work environment, this might very well be the time you need a release of belief in a God who overwhelmingly conquers, who abundantly supplies, who loves unconditionally. Now might be the time for you to pray and fast, in order to build your faith and gain spiritual insight and revelation about what to do. Of course, this step of faith will also require a physical conditioning that creates an even stronger spiritual bond between you and the Holy Spirit.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” Colossians 2:6-7 NASB
Besides the daily absorption of the Word of God into your heart and soul, intense, unrelenting prayer is the strongest weapon you possess against the evils and difficulties of this world. Prayer coupled with a personal fast (abstention from food, partially or completely, for a pre-planned length of time), and the Word of God creates a strong support system for the believer to endure hardship and be restored and refreshed for the battle.
“…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:2b KJV
The man whose son was under daily attack by fire and water, must have felt that deep sense of gratitude for the deliverance of his son, while the disciples gained a deeper understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit operating in Jesus’ life. These are all at our disposal, right now, in this moment, when we can build a fire of unrelenting prayer and praise, grasping firmly to Christ in wisdom, understating and knowledge, releasing a belief in His overwhelming power.
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all the precious and pleasant riches.”
Proverbs 24:3-4 NASB
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